Vacation Decision

If you are going to lose the money either way, I would hold out a little longer. I would also talk with the people doing the renting. We live in Florida, and I know the cancellation penalties have been reduced and/or eliminated for many places in light of the oil spill.

There is no way they can know for sure at this time where the oil will end up or how bad it will be. It only reached Pensacola on Friday, when it was predicted to hit them several weeks ago; the winds shifted. We in the Tampa area aren't expected to get it at all. If and when it reaches Myrtle Beach, it may not be much of anything because of the distance it has to travel.

Let me reiterate the importance of talking with the rental company to find out their "oil spill" plan. I think they would rather work with you than have you cancel entirely now. And I think you would still be able to enjoy the beach to some extent even if the tar balls start to wash up. I don't think it will be anything like what you see coming out of Louisiana, where everything is coated with oil.

I hope you are able to enjoy your vacation. So many people are canceling even in areas not affected, and it's hurting the local economies, something no one can really afford right now. It's very sad.

From what I have heard, you will still be able to be on the beaches, just not in the water. We're headed to Florida in August and are facing the same dilema--everything's already paid for. My hubby & I have decided that since our hotel has a pool overlooking the beach, we're still going to go & enjoy ourselves. Best of luck to you!

I would not cancel. We live in Florida and tourism is our main money maker here. The tourist economies everywhere need our support now more than ever. There is no way of knowing what the condition of the beaches will be like. They can predict all day long, but Mother Nature is in control now. I would think positive and enjoy your vacation!

I'd keep your reservations. There is so much to do in and around Myrtle Beach that you'd still be able to have a great time.

If you go, you will need to spend other money on your vacation such as entertainment & food since it's not an all inclusive. IF the oil is there, there are 2 ways to look at it. You get to see what happens firsthand or that there's an oilspill ruining my beach vacation. If you opt out of your vacation to myrtle beach and need to make other arrangments you'll have to stretch out the rest of your budget. Do you have an idea where to go for the back-up plan?

It's all a bunch of media hype centered around "What ifs" -and there are some pretty big what ifs! Sure it could happen -and it may happen, but we may find a colony of aliens on Mars too. It's not impossible -just not probable. I've been watching it closely -very closely -and we're headed to St. Augustine Beach in late July. It would reach there long before Myrtle Beach. IF -and it's an IF -the currents pick it up and take it around the Keys and up the Atlantic seaboard -it's literally supposed to take a few months. The whole "oil up the Atlantic Seaboard" is primarily a bunch of media hype -the way they do everything -take the very worst possible thing that could happen and exploit it to the fullest! Chances are -it's not going to ever show up on the Atlantic Coast, but even if it does -it will be awhile.

Read this article -it talks about the computer simulation you probably saw and then discusses at the end how this hasn't been certified -it's done using substances different from oil, etc.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/06/gulf-oil-could-...

We will be going to Mertle Beach this weekend for our family trip. Our place is on Ocean Isle. I can let you know how it looks after we get back if you want...my opinion is GO...dont let that be a deal breaker....there are ton of things to do on vacation besides the beach. go hit a swimming pool or water park if you want the fun in the sun.

We're going to be in Charleston, South Carolina, the second week of July. I've heard similar predictions, but you have to remember that they're just predictions and anything can happen. I say go for it. Take your vacation! The worse that can happen is not being able to go into the water. The beaches are fairly large, so I wouldn't think the oil would completely destroy them. Also, like someone else said, you can always swim in a pool and do the other things available around Myrtle Beach. Good luck with your decision!

I would go ahead and go and not worry about it. I very much doubt that the oil spill will be affectig Myrtle Beach at that time. We have a place in FL on the At;antic side and are not anticipating any problem for several months anyway, so your trip should be fine. Have fun.

We are scheduled to be north of Myrtle Beach in about four weeks. My husband asked me what we shoudl do - and i told him, that we can always sit on the beach and make sand castles, and if we want to swim, we can go to the pool at the condo (that is, if the oil is actually bad where we are). I personally don't want to miss out on this vaca and my four year olds seeing the ocean, plus, there are many other things for us to do other than sit on the beach... Now, having said that, i'd prefer to sit on the beach and swim in the ocean all 8 days if possible!